WI: Inlander tail chomping on the Nederlander dog

A friend of mine and me have been discussing about his TL about Indonesia that gains independence through cooperative means through political marriage between Sarekat Islam and the colonial government. There were two parties that took progressive stance over colonial subjects, the liberals and the socialists. The Liberals began what we now know as "Ethical Policy" that aimed to advance native education and living standard post-Cultuur Stelsel that eventually created the ground fertile for national awakening and political ferment. One of its by-products was Sarekat Islam, first rose as a means to counter chinese rivals in business, receiving influence from Islamic reformism in Egypt and Ottoman Empire and boosted by Ethical Policy, it developed into a political movement to better the sophistication of the natives and achieving eventual self-rule. At first it was sympathetic towards the Netherlands, then under the liberal government, which interest aligned with them and setting favorable conditions for the muslim natives at the expense of the chinese. Sarekat Islam even held Sukuran and pray for Queen's well being on her birthday, and it didn't escape the later's notice. However, the colonial establishment wasn't nearly committed enough to coopt them, while Sarekat Islam itself was internally divided and there had always been a dormant element that was anti-cooperation to begin with, which got unleashed once the party got infiltrated by radical influences, most notably communism and eventually splintered apart.

I will my friend's PoD a secret, but essentially Sarekat Islam wins expressed approval from the Queen and it will lead them into becoming the most favored native political entity. That lies a basis for a much more boosted native participation in colonial government and eventually a pro-west Islamic regime in East Indies. The final stop is obviously independence through granting of self-rule by the mother country.

However, there's one interesting point. I've been only talking about Liberal Party. Socialist Party of Netherlands, had an even more progressive idea of how to run the colony. They seem like they were actually aiming for true equality between Europeans and none-Europeans. They actually intended to industrialize the East Indies should they ever get the chance to. If that should pass, it'll be a matter of time for the colonial economy to eventually threaten homeland's primacy, and they'll make sure it will be restricted and regulated so it won't go out of hand, from their perspective. Most likely outcome we can expect is that NEI will be granted independence under some kind of arrangement that will benefit Netherlands or at least protect it from undesired possibilities.

However, what if, say, the industrialization of the colony might get somewhat out of hand, leading to a shift of industrial center towards East Indies, and ultimately political center ? How can that be possible ? Personally, I think short of cheating on democracy at home by determined profit-thirsty one percenters with no leash, it just won't happen. How do we get those said one percenters ?
 
I suspect that the Netherlands would declare independence from her own empire to avoid becoming a minor European appendix to Indonesia.

fasquardon
 
First, you must somehow convince Tjokroaminoto's hardline muslim cronies to either quit SI much earlier, or stop their radicalist elements from trying to steer Sarekat Islam into more hardline politics against Netherlands (SI Putih), and then, at almost the same time curb or kick out communist tendencies (SI Merah).

Second, get Dutch colonial administrations actually favouring local traders instead of the Chinese ones...

The rest should be fine if Tjokroaminoto is still alive and took more cooperative stances toward colonial govt instead of being more and more drawn toward hardline Islamic stances.
 
Regarding your first point, it is true that many SI members were hardline, however for much of its early days SI was collaborationist. They held mass prayers for the Queen's birthday and the centennial of Dutch liberation from Napoleonic rule. Keeping them so isn't too much of a stretch, you just need to take care of the communists. As the White SI's radicalism is also influenced by the commies.

Regarding your second point. That's exactly OTL. Please, education within the Ethical Policy is officialy aimed to "protect the natives against Chinese enroachment". While the Chinese, along with Arabs and Tamils, are legally a class above the natives, does not mean the Dutch prefer them. The Chinese were forbidden to own any land, and they were restricted from moving between locations. "Dutch administrators favor Chinese tradesmen" is an out of date Soeharto era propaganda.
 
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Dutch conservatives were suspicious of the natives and kinda saw the Chinese as necessary to contain the inlanders though. I guess it depends on which party was in charge at the moment.
 
Have the Chinese stumble themselves on some get-rich-quick scheme at the expense of the Colonial governments... ;) then, nobody will trust them afterwards... Korupsi Cukong in 19th century anyone? :p
 
Regarding your first point, it is true that many SI members were hardline, however for much of its early days SI was collaborationist. They held mass prayers for the Queen's birthday and the centennial of Dutch liberation from Napoleonic rule. Keeping them so isn't too much of a stretch, you just need to take care of the communists. As the White SI's radicalism is also influenced by the commies.

Regarding your second point. That's exactly OTL. Please, education within the Ethical Policy is officialy aimed to "protect the natives against Chinese enroachment". While the Chinese, along with Arabs and Tamils, are legally a class above the natives, does not mean the Dutch prefer them. The Chinese were forbidden to own any land, and they were restricted from moving between locations. "Dutch administrators favor Chinese tradesmen" is an out of date Soeharto-era propaganda that needs to be stopped.

I actually like your idea of the Queen openly embrace Sarekat Islam the other day. That should permanently wed the movement to colonial establishment.
 
While the conservatives thought the Chinese can contain the natives, the idea that the colonials favored the Chinese is hurtful. The Dutch did not trust them at all. They viewed the Chinese as cheap labour who were supposed to go home after they outlive their use. All the hatred towards the Chinese in modern day Indonesia is a product of colonialist sentiments, made stronger by Soeharto's regime.

Back on topic. The Queen's approval might lead to the organization being acknowledged as a national one. This might mean the SI would not be a collection of independent-minded regional branches, instead being a more cohesive group with clear leadership. Thus it would make the radicals, communist or not, less likely to voice their aspirations against the status quo. However, that's not the only thing needed. I don't want to spill my whole planned TL here, would I? ;)
 
2) While the conservatives thought the Chinese can contain the natives, the idea that the colonials favored the Chinese is hurtful. The Dutch did not trust them at all. They viewed the Chinese as cheap labour who were supposed to go home after they outlive their use. All the hatred towards the Chinese in modern day Indonesia is a product of colonialist sentiments, made stronger by Soeharto's regime.

1) Back on topic. The Queen's approval might lead to the organization being acknowledged as a national one. This might mean the SI would not be a collection of independent-minded regional branches, instead being a more cohesive group with clear leadership. Thus it would make the radicals, communist or not, less likely to voice their aspirations against the status quo. However, that's not the only thing needed. I don't want to spill my whole planned TL here, would I? ;)

1) I'm cool ;)

2) To be fair, history of collusion between the Chinese and the Dutch dated way long back to VoC era. But perhaps it only really became as hurtful as we know it under cultuurstelsel, which benefited them fabulously since cultuurstelsel blocked the development of native middle class.
 
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